Corrosion resistant battery terminal connector

ABSTRACT

A corrosion resistant battery terminal connector for attaching an electrical conductor cable to a terminal post in an electric storage battery. An elastomeric material sealingly engaged between the outside surface of the battery terminal post and the bore of the cable terminal is used to define corrosion resistant areas by electrical contact which are protected from corrosion by air and moisture. One embodiment employs a circular cable terminal having inwardly projecting battery post contacting flanges enclosed by a gasket or elastomeric material. An alternate embodiment employs a conventional cable terminal and a battery terminal post having recesses to receive the elastomeric gasket. A fastener fits around the battery post and cable terminal. The fastener has two rings which are slightly larger than the terminal post. The rings are connected to each other and the top and bottom ring is elastically fixed to an angle so as to eliptically engage the terminal connector to the post. A second connecting piece joined only at the bottom ring extends upwardly. The second connecting piece serves to pull the bottom ring into a perpendicular position relative the battery post relieving the pressure of the eliptical contact of the ring with the post. The connector apparatus can then be easily removed. The rings also serve the purpose of compressing the elastomeric material in the first embodiment thereof thus providing a firmer seal.

United States Patent Bradley [451 Nov. 28, 1972 CORROSION RESISTANTBATTERY TERMINAL CONNECTOR [72] Inventor: Curtis E. Bradley, 4517 CalleVentura, Phoenix, Ariz. 85018 22] Filed: Dec. 2, 1970 21 Appl.No.:94,286

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.47,384, June 18, 1970, abandoned.

[52] U.S. Cl. ..339/1l4, 339/230 R [51] Int. Cl. ..H0lr 11/26 [58] Fieldof Search ..136/135, 168', 339/94, 114,

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS l,l86,l38 4/1970 Great Britain ..339/l16R Primary ExaminerRichard E. Moore Att0rney-Eric P. Schellin and John A.Robertson [57] ABSTRACT A corrosion resistant battery terminal connectorfor attaching an electrical conductor cable to a terminal post in anelectric storage battery. An elastorneric material sealingly engagedbetween the outside surface of the battery terminal post and the bore ofthe cable terminal is used to define corrosion resistant areas byelectrical contact which are protected from corrosion by air andmoisture. One embodiment employs a circular cable terminal havinginwardly projecting battery post contacting flanges enclosed by a gasketor elastomeric material. An alternate embodiment employs a conventionalcable terminal and a battery terminal post having recesses to receivethe elastomeric gasket. A fastener fits around the battery post andcable terminal. The fastener has two rings which are slightly largerthan the terminal post. The rings are connected to each other and thetop and bottom ring is elastically fixed to an angle so as toeliptically engage the terminal connector to the post. A secondconnecting piece joined only at the bottom ring extends upwardly. Thesecond connecting piece serves to pull the bottom ring into aperpendicular position relative the battery post relieving the pressureof the eliptical contact of the ring with the post. The connectorapparatus can then be easily removed. The rings also serve the purposeof compressing the elastomeric material in the first embodiment thereofthus providing a firmer seal.

5 Claim, 8 Drawing Figures PATENIEDnnv 2a 1912 SHEU 1 0f 2 INVENTOR.

CURTIS E. BRADLEY ATTORNEYS PATENTEDuuvza I972 3.104.440

SHEEI 2 0F 2 INVENTOR.

CURTIS 58 AD E $335- 15/ Y 5 I L ATTORNEYS CORROSION RESISTANT BATTERYTERMINAL CONNECTOR This application is a continuation-in-part of mycopending application Ser. No. 47,384 filed June 18, 1970, now abandonedentitled CORROSION RE- SISTANT BATTERY TERMINAL CONNECTOR."

This invention relates to terminal connectors for attaching electricalconductor cables to battery posts.

More specifically, it pertains to means for protecting the contactingsurfaces of the connector from corrosion by air and moisture.

In another sense, the invention pertains to devices for rapid, easyinstallation and removal of cable terminals.

There are in the prior art a number of devices for protecting thecontacting surfaces between battery posts and cable terminals fromoxidation by air and moisture. However, the difficulty with the priorart devices is that they are cumbersome to utilize and awkward toinstall and remove. Others appear to be overly complicated and,therefore, difficult to manufacture.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improvedbattery terminal connector which fully and adequately protects theelectrical contact surfaces of a cable terminal and battery post fromcorrosion by air and moisture.

It is another object of this invention to provide such a connector whichis simply constructed and, therefore, inexpensive to manufacture.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide such a connectorwhich can be quickly and easily placed on and removed from a batterypost.

The invention is summarized as follows: Briefly, in accordance with afirst preferred embodiment thereof, there is provided a corrosionresistant battery terminal connector for attaching an electricalconductor cable to a terminal post of an electric storage battery. Thisconnector comprises a cable terminal having means for attaching thecable thereto; a bore wall defining an aperture larger than, and adaptedto receive, a battery post; flanges projecting inwardly from the borewall into the aperture for contacting the battery post and forconducting electricity through the terminal to the cable; and a gasketsized and shaped to fit the bore wall and sealingly fill the spacebetween the bore wall and the post, the gasket having ports sized topermit the flanges to protrude therethrough to make contact with thepost. The connector also comprises a fastener disposed around the cableterminal, the fastener having opposed top and bottom rings having insidediameters larger than the battery post; a first connector joining therings and adapted to bias the plane of at least one of the rings to anangular attitude relative the axis of the post, thus making contact withthe post for frictional engagement thereof; a second connector havingone end attached to the bottom ring and a second end projectingupwardly, such that by pulling the second end, the angular attitude ofthe plane of said rings relative the longitudinal axis of the post ischanged to more nearly perpendicular thereto, thus releasing thefrictional engagement of the rings with the post so as to permit removalof the cable terminal.

An alternately preferred embodiment of the invention employs aconventional cable terminal and a modified battery terminal post. Themodified battery terminal post has a first angular groove proximate theupper end thereof and a second angular groove proximate the lower endthereof and spaced longitudinal grooves extending therebetween. Anelastomeric gasket sized and shaped to be received by the groovessealingly engages the bore wall of the cable terminal to provide sealedareas of electrical contact.

Other, further and more specific objects and advantages of the inventiondisclosed will become apparent to those skilled in the art from thefollowing description of the invention taken in conjunction with thedrawing in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the component parts of theconnector, a portion of the cable terminal and the gasket being brokenaway;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the invention in place on a battery post,a portion of the terminal, the gasket and the fastener being broken awayto show a cross section;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2 sectioned along the line 3-3;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the cableterminal;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the component parts of analternate embodiment of the connector;

FIG. 6 is an elevation view partly in section of the assembledcomponents of the device of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of FIG. 6 in section taken along the line 7-7; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view in section corresponding to FIG. 7 showing analternate arrangement of the elements thereof.

The fastener 21 fits around the cable terminal 3 in such a way that theaxis of the aperture 7 of the cable terminal 3 and the axis of the topring 22 and bottom ring 23 coincide. The bottom ring 23 of the fastener21 forms an obtuse angle with the first connector 24 whereas the topring 22 forms a right angle with the first connector 24. Thus, when theterminal connector 8 is in place on the battery post 1, the bottom ring23 elliptically engages the battery post 1. The connectors are formedfrom sheet metal material. This material is harder than lead and theedges 25 of the bottom ring 23 grip the outside surface 2 of the batterypost 1 and hold the terminal connector 8 securely in place on thebattery post 1. The second connector 26 is connected to the bottom ring23 only. It is retained in a vertical position by bracket arms 27attached to the top ring 22. The second connector 26 is free to slideand is provided with a slot 28 which can be engaged by any handy toolsuch as a screwdriver, or if nothing else is available, the shank of acar key, which is inserted through slot 28 with one end on the top 9 ofthe battery post I. It is then a simple matter to release the pressureof the bottom ring 23 on the battery post 1 by prying upwardly using thescrewdriver or similar tool as a lever. When the leverage is exerted onthe second connector 26, the angle between the first connector 24 andthe bottom ring 23 is changed to an approximately right angle, and bothrings 22 and 23 can be easily slipped off the battery post 1. FIGS. 1through 3 illustrate a modification of a standard cable terminal. InFIG. 4 an alternative embodiment of the invention is shown wherein thecable terminal is manufactured as a continuous ring 31 instead of asplit ring in which case the gasket 1 1 can be made in the form ofcontinuous parallel pieces, dispensing with the tie pieces 18 of thegasket 11. Manufactured as a continuous ring 31, the unnecessary nut andbolt 16 are eliminated. The continuous ring also provides largercontacting surfaca between the alternate cable terminal 29 and thebattery post 1.

FIG. 5 specifically details an alternately preferred embodiment of theinvention utilizing a conventional cable terminal 35 having an uprightcylindrical body 36 and a longitudinal axial bore 37. The bore 37 isshaped and adapted to receive and engage the modified battery terminalpost 38. As is conventional practice in the art, the body 35 is of splitring construction having flanges 39 extending outwardly which are drawntogether by a bolt 40 and a nut 41 to provide clamping means about thebattery terminal post 38. A cylindrical protrusion 42 is provided forattachment to the cable which is either molded or swedged therein.

The battery post 38 has an outside surface 43 which mates with the wall44 of the bore 37. The battery post 38 has a surface recess thereindefined by a first annular groove 47 proximate the upper end thereof anda second annular groove 48 proximate the lower end thereof. Spacedlongitudinal grooves 49 and 50 extend between the upper annular groove47 and the lower annular groove 48. Not shown in this particular view isa third longitudinal groove approximately diametrically opposing theshown longitudinal grooves. A sealing gasket 51 preferably constructedof an elastomer such as silicon rubber is shaped and adapted to bereceived within the surface recess of the terminal post 38.Specifically, to illustrate corresponding elements, the gasket 5! has alower circular portion 52 which fits into the lower annular recess 48,an upper circular member 53 which fits into the upper annular groove 48and longitudinal tic pieces 54, 55, and 56 which fit respectively intothe longitudinal recesses 49, 50 and the third recess specifically notshown.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the assembled relationship of the components ofthe invention, specifically detailed in connection with the descriptionof FIG. 5. As specifically noted herein, the gasket 51 defines corrosionresistant areas of electrical contact between the outside surface 43 ofthe terminal 38 and the bore wall 44 of the cable terminal 35. The firstarea generally designated A in FIG. 7 lies between the longitudinal tiepieces 54 and 56 while the second area B lies between the longitudinaltie pieces 55 and 56. Both areas are bounded at the upper end by thecircular member 53 and at the lower end by the circular member 54. Arelatively small area generally designated C lined between thelongitudinal tie pieces 54 and 55 is subject to corrosion from air andmoisture entering between the flanges 39 while the sealed areas A and Bare more than adequate to transmit full current from the battery to thecircuits. In this configuration, care must be exercised when couplingthe cable terminal 35 to the battery post 38 to maintain properorientation to expose only the area C. FIG. 8 shows a slightly modifiedarrangement providing equal areas of contact A, B and C as defined bythe longitudinal tie piece 56 and the displaced longitudinal tie pieces54a and 550. This configuration eliminates orientatiori of the cableterminal 35 upon the battery post 38. Regardless of orientation, atleast two of the three equally spaced areas will provide sealedcorrosion resistant contact and amply conduct adequate current.

Vanous other changes in the devices chosen for purposes of illustrationwill readily occur to persons skilled in the art. For example, thelongitudinal tie pieces 54 and 55 could be juxtapositionally placed orfused into one relatively wide longitudinal tie piece to seal the openarea between the flanges 39. Such modifications and variations while notexplicitly denoted in the foregoing detailed description do not deviatefrom the teachings of the present invention and are intended to beincluded in the scope and spirit thereof which is limited only by a fairinterpretation of the following claims.

Having now fully described the presently preferred embodiment of myinvention, 1 claim:

1. An electrical conductor cable terminal adapted for attachment to aterminal post of an electric storage battery and further adapted toprovide a corrosion-resistant connection therewith, said cable terminalcomprising:

a. means for attaching a cable thereto;

b. a bore wall defining an aperture larger than, and

adapted to receive, a battery post;

0. arcuate flanges projecting inwardly from said bore wall into saidaperture presenting inner curved surfaces for contacting said batterypost and for conducting electricity through said terminal to said cable;

d. a gasket sized and shaped to fit said bore wall and sealingly fillthe space between the said bore wall and said post, said gasket havingports sized to permit said flanges to protrude therethrough to makecontact with said post;

e. a fastener disposed around said cable terminal adapted tofrictionally engage said terminal post and releasably secure said cableterminal to said terminal post, said fastener comprising i. opposed topand bottom rings having inside diameters larger than said battery post,

ii. a first connector joining said rings and adapted to bias the planeof at least one of said rings to an angular attitude relative the axisof said post, thus making contact with said post for frictionalengagement thereof, and

iii. a second connector having one end attached to said bottom ring anda second end projecting upwardly, such that by pulling said second end,the angular attitude of the plane of said rings relative thelongitudinal axis of said post is changed to more nearly perpendicularthereto, thus releasing the frictional engagement of the rings with saidpost so as to permit removal of the cable terminal.

2. A corrosion-resistant battery terminal connector for attaching anelectrical conductor cable to a terminal post of an electric storagebattery, said connector 60 comprising:

a. a cable terminal having means for attaching said cable thereto, abore wall defining an aperture larger than, and adapted to receive, abattery post, flanges projecting inwardly from said bore wall into saidaperture for contacting said battery post and for conducting electricitythrough said terminal to said cable, and a gasket sized and shaped tofit said bore wall and sealingly fill the space between the said borewall and said post, said gasket having ports sized to permit saidflanges to protrude therethrough to make contact with said post;

b. a fastener disposed around said cable terminal,

said fastener having opposed top and bottom rings having insidediameters larger than said battery post, a first connector joining saidrings and adapted to bias the plane of at least one of said rings to anangular attitude relative the axis of said post, thus making contactwith said post for frictional engagement thereof, a second connectorhaving one end attached to said bottom ring and a second end projectingupwardly, such that by pulling said second end, the angular attitude ofthe plane of said rings relative to the longitudinal axis of said postis changed to more nearly perpendicular thereto, thus releasing thefrictional engagement of the rings with said post so as to permitremoval ol'the cable terminal.

3. An electric storage battery terminal post adapted tocircumferentially receive a conventional annular cable terminal andfurther adapted to define corrosionresistant areas of electrical contactbetween the outside surfaces of said terminal post and the bore of theannular cable terminal, said electric storage battery terminal postcomprising:

a. an upright generally conical battery terminal post having a surfacerecess therein defined by a first annular groove, a second annulargroove spaced from said first annular groove, and a longitudinal grooveextending therebetween; and

b. a gasket sized and shaped to be contained within said recess andsealingly engaging the base of said cable terminal.

4. The battery terminal post of claim 3, wherein said surface recessincludes a first annular groove, a second annular groove spaced fromsaid first annular groove, and at least two longitudinal groovesextending therebetween.

5. The battery terminal post of claim 4 wherein there are threelongitudinal grooves angularly spaced apart.

1. An electrical conductor cable terminal adapted for attachment to a terminal post of an electric storage battery and further adapted to provide a corrosion-resistant connection therewith, said cable terminal comprising: a. means for attaching a cable thereto; b. a bore wall defining an aperture larger than, and adapted to receive, a battery post; c. arcuate flanges projecting inwardly from said bore wall into said aperture presenting inner curved surfaces for contacting said battery post and for conducting electricity through said terminal to said cable; d. a gasket sized and shaped to fit said bore wall and sealingly fill the space between the said bore wall and said post, said gasket having ports sized to permit said flanges to protrude therethrough to make contact with said post; e. a fastener disposed around said cable terminal adapted to frictionally engage said terminal post and releasably secure said cable terminal to said terminal post, said fastener comprising i. opposed top and bottom rings having inside diameters larger than said battery post, ii. a first connector joining said rings and adapted to bias the plane of at least one of said rings to an angular attitude relative the axis of said post, thus making contact with said post for frictional engagement thereof, and iii. a second connector having one end attached to said bottom ring and a second end projecting upwardly, such that by pulling said second end, the angular attitude of the plane of said rings relative the longitudinal axis of said post is changed to more nearly perpendicular thereto, thus releasing the frictional engagement of the rings with said post so as to permit removal of the cable terminal.
 2. A corrosion-resistant battery terminal connector for attaching an electrical conductor cable to a terminal post of an electric storage battery, said connector comprising: a. a cable terminal having means for attaching said cable thereto, a bore wall defining an aperture larger than, and adapted to receive, a battery post, flanges projecting inwardly from said bore wall into said aperture for contacting said battery post and for conducting electricity through said terminal to said cable, and a gasket sized and shaped to fit said bore wall and sealingly fill the space between the said bore wall and said post, said gasket having ports sized to permit said flanges to protrude therethrough to make contact with said post; b. a fastener disposed around said cable terminal, said fastener having opposed top and bottom rings having inside diameters larger than said battery post, a first connector joining said rings and adapted to bias the plane of at least one of said rings to an angular attitude relative the axis of said post, thus making contact with said post for frictional engagement thereof, a second connector having one end attached to said bottom ring and a second end projecting upwardly, such that by pulling said second end, the angular attitude of the plane of said rings relative to the longitudinal axis of said post is changed to more nearly perpendicular thereto, thus releasing the frictional engagement of the rings with said post so as to permit removal of the cable terminal.
 3. An electric storage battery terminal post adapted to circumferentially receive a conventional annular cable terminal and further adapted to define corrosion-resistant areas of electrical contact between the outside surfaces of said terminal post and the bore of the annular cable terminal, said electric storage battery terminal post comprising: a. an upright generally conical battery terminal post having a surface recess therein defined by a first annular groove, a second annular groove spaced from said first annular groove, and a longitudinal groove extending therebetween; and b. a gasket sized and shaped to be contained within said recess and sealingly engaging the base of said cable terminal.
 4. The battery terminal post of claim 3, wherein said surface recess includes a first annular groove, a second annular groove spaced from said first annular groove, and at least two longitudinal grooves extending therebetween.
 5. The battery terminal post of claim 4 wherein there are three longitudinal grooves angularly spaced apart. 